Standards New Zealand has now released Amendment No. 3 to NZS3603:1993.

The amendment updates the  the timber code for the latest machine stress graded timber grades along with changes to the structural properties for the current crop of structural timber.

The changes made are:

• Machine stress graded MSG 15, 12, 10, 8 & 6 has been added
• Visual grade stresses for VSG10, 8, 6 have been added
• A Lower Bound Modulus of Elasticity (MoE) has been introduced.
• The F - Grades have been removed.
• Strength Properties have lowered in comparison to MoE.
• All timber grades, except No.1 Framing unverified, require verification to NZS3622.

To download the standard, go to the Standards New Zealand site.

To read more about the changes see Doug Gaunt's presentation.